THE main opposition to the proposed demolition of 162 houses in Nelson West quizzed their first witness during the second day of a public inquiry.

Eian Cawes, for English Heritage, questioned Professor Philip Leather, an expert in housing and urban renewal commissioned by the council, about the housing market in Nelson West and heritage interest in the area.

Mr Cawes said: "If you are required by policy to have proper regard to heritage issues when you are considering which over supply of pre-1919 terrace housing to remove, is it not necessary to examine the heritage quality of the housing generally."

Prof Leather said there would need to be some demolition but he said he would have consider heritage value along with other issues such as the low demand, the condition of property and the views of residents.

He was also asked if he had evidence that houses had been abandoned in Nelson West -- one of the criteria for a collapsed housing market -- but he said he had no evidence of this.

Gerard Hughes, representing GVA Grimley -- international property advisers commissioned by the council told government inspector Philip Asquith that the slow demand for housing in Whitefield started as far back as 1994/5 and at that time the rate of empty houses in Whitefield was among the highest of all wards in Pendle and increasing.

He said that 142 of the 162 houses surveyed had stability defects including bulging, fractured and leaning main house and rear extension walls, fractured and leaning chimney stacks and distorted door and window openings and 139 dwellings were in severe disrepair.

Mr Hughes added: "Nelson West exhibits all the characteristics of housing market failure and low demand." The council has bought 120 of the properties in the compulsory purchase area.

The inquiry was continuing today.